Miami Marlins may be softening on no-trade clause policy

Asked whether the Marlins have reason to re-think their no no-trade clause policy, owner Jeffrey Loria acknowledged it may be necessary at some point.

"It ties us up, but who knows what will happen down the road," Loria said, during an informal gathering with reporters Monday at Marlins Park. "There are some free agents who may demand it, but we have to wait and see."

Added President David Samson: "Players have a window when they make money. If you offer the most money, they'll play. There are teams that don't give no-trade clauses. Will we look at it going forward? I don't know."

More so than with future free agent signings, the Marlins' no-trade policy may be tested with a guy already in the fold. Giancarlo Stanton is under club control through 2016. Loria said at some point the Marlins will approach him with a multi-year offer, just not this season.

Whether the Marlins include a full or even partial no-trade provision could influence Stanton's decision to sign.

"He’ll be here this year and I’m hopeful he’ll come here the next year, and when we have our opportunity to talk to him, we’ll cross that bridge," Loria said. "We will cross that bridge."

Some pundits and fans believe Stanton under no circumstances will agree to an extension. Perhaps, but the Marlins have to make him turn down a lucrative offer. Though Stanton expressed dissatisfaction with the offseason moves, Samson doesn't believe anything that transpired has lessened the team's chances of keeping him beyond 2016.

"The Stanton issue to me is separate," he said. "It takes two people to sign a long-term deal, and I don't believe that our chances are any greater of less because of this offseason of signing Giancarlo. This offseason has not changed our chances of signing Giancarlo, not even by one percent.

“It hasn’t helped it or hurt it. Our chances last year were the same as they are this year.”